May 17th: Ascension, Mark 16: 15-20

And the Lord worked with them…

The fear experienced by the women and the disciples at the end of Mark’s Gospel shows us that even when we have profound spiritual experiences, fear can often force us into silence. The account of the ascension in Mark which we read today urges us not to be afraid but to go out. Mark’s Gospel is a Gospel for hard times, for those who are struggling. This ending aims to empower us and give us courage even when the world around us tells us otherwise. It urges us to “Go” and tell.

The disciples ‘went out’; bringing ‘good news’ everywhere. We too are called to be Easter People because we live with an assurance that pain, death and grief will not have the last word and we dare to shine the light of hope and wholeness into the empty tomb. Where have you encountered Easter People in your own life? How do you communicate this risen Jesus to others? How can we be Easter People to others? This is the challenge of the Gospel today. To bring Christ’s love and assurance to all we meet.

‘God has given us the power to create beauty, to make another smile, to be a healing presence in someone’s sorrow, to bring justice to the oppressed, to console those in difficulty, to bring peace and joy to others, to help those in need, to laugh and enjoy life, to do good and turn from evil, to forgive those who have hurt us, and, most of all, to love’ (Iris Perez)

May 10th: John 15:9-17

Fruit that will last

Friendship is a beautiful thing, where people share their dreams and hopes, their desires, plans and worries. It is an intimate relationship.  What does it mean for you today to hear that Jesus is calling you his friend? That you are loved by him? These are questions worth thinking about. He is telling us these things so that we may also go and love others and share this joy with them. To abide in Jesus we are called to live out the love that he has taught us, the love that he shares with the Father, the love that he has shared with us. This love brings great joy and demands that we share it with others.

This love that he speaks about is no ordinary love, it is agape love, that is, unconditional love, regardless of who you are, where you are from or what your circumstances might be. It is the love we, as Christian communities, are called to share. It is the greatest commandment of all. If the world is wondering what God is like, our Christian communities are called to be witnesses to that love. It should be so recognisable from the ‘outside’ that people should be able to say, look at them Christians loving everyone. It is a radical love, one that does not judge or condemn, a love that is inclusive of all. Is it recognisable in our own Christian communities? 

May 3rd: John 15:1-8

What does it mean to be a branch?

As with all good vine growers, God cares for His crop, nurturing it, pruning it, giving it all it needs so that it can grow and reach its full potential. We are no doubt the branches. What does it mean to be a branch? Branches must be connected to the vine or they bear no fruit. Even those branches that do bear fruit, they need pruning so that they can grow and bear even more fruit. As we are all too well aware, productivity seems to be the measure of success in the world today, in our education systems, in the workplace, in economics; we are measured by what we produce. Is Jesus really adding on the pressure in this Gospel passage by telling us that he wants to see results or else!?

Perhaps we can read this passage in terms of connectivity. Think of your most intimate friendships and relationships. You don’t measure their weight in terms of produce do you? But you do want to stay connected right? It is this closeness, this intimacy that Jesus calls us to: “abide in me”. Are you connected or disconnected? If the connection is strong, then fruit bearing comes naturally and people will see the Gospel in our lives and in the way we respond to the world. If we are connected, all manner of things are possible for us.

“People see the Gospel in our lives; let them read our lives” Pope Francis